Shopping for jeans isn’t that complicated if you’re in the store but it can be when you’re shopping online. Pretty much every company sells jeans in different cuts but there are so many variations so I’ve decided to clear the air and explain the most common cuts you’ll find in stores and online. It’s also a good idea to get familiar with jean cuts so when you find your favorite, you’ll always know what to look for and you’ll know what doesn’t look good on you. Before we get started, though, let me explain what a denim cut is.

A jean cut is simply the way the denim has been cut to form the shape of the legs before it is sewn into the finished product. Cutting the denim in certain ways can give you certain shapes like slim jeans, bell-bottoms, or boot-cut jeans and that’s it.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started with the Haute Écriture guide to denim cuts.

1. Straight Leg

This is the most basic cut of denim you’ll find. As the name implies, the legs of the jeans are straight and have no special shape or form. The denim has been cut so the legs are the same width throughout.

2. Slim Straight

The name of this cut, as with all denim cuts, also implies the shape of the legs. The denim on a pair of slim straight jeans is slim around the thigh and straight from the knee down. The denim is cut slim at the top and cut straight with an even width from the knee down.

3. Slim

The legs on slim cut jeans are slim throughout. They are slim on the thighs and slim on the calves. They aren’t as slim as skinny jeans so you’ll still have some room here. These jeans just give a little more definition to your legs. I’m guessing you can already tell how the denim was cut here.

4. Boot Cut

The legs on a pair of these will be straight on the thigh but slightly flare out at the bottom as to make room for boots. This has become a fashion style but is work friendly, for obvious reasons, if you work in construction or manufacturing.

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5. Slim Boot

This is basically the same thing as slim straight jeans but with a boot cut instead. The legs on these jeans are slim on the thigh and slightly flare out to make room for boots.

6. Skinny Jeans

I’m sure that everyone knows what these are but I’ll explain anyway. The legs on these jeans are skinny. They are slimmer than slim cut jeans and show the shape of your legs. These are quite difficult to take off at the end of the day.

7. Super Skinny

Jeans don’t get any skinnier than this. These jeans are skin-tight jeans. They are the ones that are the most difficult to put on and take off. Though, if you’re short and skinny, you shouldn’t have much of a problem with that as they will just look like regular skinny jeans on you.

8. Tapered Jeans

The legs on these jeans are like straight leg jeans but as you get to the top of the ankle, it tapers. That means that it gets thinner as you get to the end of the denim. These jeans are ideal for wearing with flip-flops in the summer.

Those are the most common cuts of denim you’ll find in stores and knowing these cuts will make it easier to shop online. Though, you should go to the store first to see what cut fits you the best. Then you’ll be able to buy jeans online without having to worry about returns as much.

Are there any cuts you see in stores that I didn’t mention here? Let me know in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to get new posts sent directly to your inbox and fallow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.